The Biomass North Forum in Canada has been cancelled due
to ‘political uncertainty’. The event in Ottawa that aimed to connect Canada’s
bioeconomy had been due to take place from 17-19 September.

According to organisers, the primary goals of the forum
were to: strengthen and extend the sector network in the country, offer
‘meaningful content’ that improves stakeholders’ understanding and ability to
participate in the emerging bioeconomy, connect Canadian businesses and
communities with opportunities, communicate academic research with the
businesses and communities that need to make informed decisions, inform
policymakers about best practices and earn enough income to offset some of the
company’s operational costs and to plan future events.

Dawn Lambe, executive director of the Biomass North
Development Centre, published a statement on the company’s website explaining
the decision:

“With the political uncertainty of the pre-writ period
federally, we could not get concrete confirmation about the attendance of key
political and administrative staff.

“As several provinces prepare for provincial elections
and others are in the midst of policy and program changes as the result of
recent changes in government, delegates that had conditionally agreed to
attend/speak were unable to confirm with certainty...